Nobody wants to feel unsafe or threatened by unseen entities in their own home. Here are some ways to do a house cleansing.
By Rebecca Nidey
Everything I Need To Know I Learned In A Haunted House
Earlier this week one of my nieces called with the news that her family had purchased a camper. They plan on using it during County Fair week and for other recreational purposes. Would I be able to provide any old bed linens, pots and pans, or any other household items for this tiny house on wheels? Of course!
My closets and cabinets and storage rooms were jam packed with odds and ends of home furnishings that were appropriate for a camping life. Gently used or not very attractive, they were still suitable for “roughing it” in their portable house.
While I was working away pulling items out of their hiding places, I had an ear tuned to the television in the other room. Nothing grabbed my attention till a commercial came on for the new “Ghostbusters” movie that is soon to be released. The familiar music jumped into my head and continued to dance around like a ghost about to slime someone. Cleaning house can be both a physical and spiritual undertaking, with or without the slime.
Only once or twice have I helped “cleanse” a house by helping spirits pass over and that was purely spur of the moment and with no knowledge of the protocol or rites normally used to do so. Since those impromptu ceremonies I have chosen to look further into the traditional and not so traditional rituals used to cleanse a house or other building.
First and foremost, should be the confirmation that there is actually a spirit who is causing some havoc in the household. Since it is the objective of many paranormal groups to disprove rather than prove the presence of a ghost, it may be found that the troublemaking spirit was actually a squirrel or other wildlife in the attic or the settling of an old house that creates the sounds of footsteps on creaky boards. My home has a railroad track within several blocks and if the train is barreling along, the vibrations have been known to jar open my cabinet doors. These are all the minor occurrences that unsettle and frighten people into the thought that they are hosting a haunting.
Though it is very hard to prove a haunting, sometimes it seems to be the most probable cause of incidents that are not explained by normal actions. I personally have very seldom run into ghostly spirits who are anything more than cranky. I will not dispute other investigators who say they have been injured by spirits but most of the damage I have seen to people could have been caused by surroundings. In the heat of the moment, minor injuries can be unnoticed till later. A serving tray flying off of a shelf at a person is a little more obvious. Doors opening and closing without the presence of a breath of airflow is hard to explain also. Objects moved from one location to another when no one is present in the home is equally unsettling.
Although nobody wants to feel unsafe or threatened in their own home, business, or other building, I want to point out some ways to circumvent the need to do a house cleansing. It is my belief that ghostly spirits are just people without bodies. They retain, for the most part, the quirks and personalities they had while in body. A person who was easily frustrated and short tempered while alive might show their displeasure by slamming a few doors or knocking off a knickknack. As crazy as it sounds, simply acknowledging the presence of a spirit might make the activity stop. We all get a little grumpy when we are ignored!
If the occurrences continue, don’t hesitate to set boundaries with the spirit. No one, living or dead, has the right to abuse or frighten another in any way. Make that clear to the ghosts and ask them to “play nice.” We make it a habit on our investigations to ask if there is anything we can do to help the spirits and request an answer through our equipment. Acknowledge if you can’t help but thank the spirit for the answer. Just like in life, sometimes talking to someone makes you better even if the person who is listening can’t help. When investigating the home of an elderly murder victim, we were able to help her spirit rest by letting her understand that justice had been done when her killer was imprisoned for the horrible attack and fearful death he had inflicted on her in the place she should have felt safest.
If the havoc continues, demand that the spirit leave. I cannot say for sure that a spirit can be forced to leave. The ones that I have helped have requested that they be reunited with loved ones and I truly feel that those same loved ones helped them find the way “home.” It is helpful to put the instructions to the spirit in a context they can understand. In communicating with a lonely Native American ghost who longed to be back with his people, I told him to look for their cooking fires and they would be there waiting on him. It must have been the way to guide him as I never spoke to him again.
If these measures do not quiet the house, there are other actions that can be made. Each culture and religion seems to have their own means and ceremonies to help spirits pass to their peace and I would like to outline a few of them. Since there seemed to be several schools of thought on this; I advise you to read them all and find the ones that seem to feel right to you. I am not an expert on cleansing houses of spirits so I will say that I cannot recommend any of these steps unless I state that I have used them. Please do your own research and find what fits your needs.
One of the measures that I found in my research had never occurred to me. Before doing a house cleansing it is recommended that the home (business, etc.) be physically cleaned. A space that is cluttered and unclean can attract an uneasy spirit. Having put that theory to the test today by cleaning out some closets and cabinets, I can personally attest to having a feeling that a bit of a load has been lifted. Often, a space that is chaotic reflects the outlook of those who dwell in that area and that too can attract restless spirits. By cleaning house, the aura of it is lighter.
After the home has been cleaned, if possible, it is good to air it out. Open some windows and screened doors to allow nature to “blow out the cobwebs.” It is actually recommended by some who do house cleansings to keep the doors and windows open during the ceremony to create an exit or portal for the spirits as they depart.
If you practice a specific religion, it is helpful to use a religious talisman while doing the cleansing. A cross, crucifix, Star of David, Bible, etc. can be carried both as comfort and as part of the ceremony. I do caution that while you may be a member of this religious group, the ghostly spirit may not be and so may not be moved by the use of their symbols and may be angered.
Saying a prayer or affirmation before and during the actions is helpful also. The one that I use is a variation of one that the late Sylvia Brown spoke of in several of her books.
Father God, I ask that the White Light of the Holy Spirit surround and protect me and mine this day and every day. I ask that it cleanse and purify my soul. I release to the Light now any negativity as so much dark smoke to be absorbed by the White Light, causing no one harm. Let nothing but love and positive energy pass into or out of this protective bubble.
In her books, Sylvia Brown always requested that the readers adapt her words to fit their needs and I ask you to do the same. Thank you to Sylvia, my mentor Belle Salisbury, and all other writers and light-workers who choose to impart the knowledge we all need to “fight the good fight.”
Either during or after the prayers, smudging the house is a way of cleansing it of negative energy and spirits. Smudging is using an herb or other dried plant that will smoke when lit. I buy premade smudge sticks but many of my friends in the paranormal and spiritual communities grown their own herbs for this use. It is recommended that the smudging start at the point(s) of the activity and continue throughout the building. Pay special attention to all point of entrance to the areas. Doors and windows are obvious but remember any other points of access such as basement doors (if they have a separate entrance and windows). The theory behind smudging as a tool of cleansing is that the smoke attaches itself to negative energy. As the smoke dissipates, the negative energy or spirits depart with it. On the recommendation of some of my friends of Native American heritage, I use sage for my smudging. In my research I found that cedar, pine, lavender, sweet grass and mugwort are also alternatives.
Lighting a white candle in each room of a building creates a positive illumination that can dispel negativity. If the usual smudging supplies are not available, some books I have read suggested that incense can be substituted also. Just as a candle can be set up in each room, incense can be burnt. Safety precautions must be taken when leaving a lit candle or incense stick or cone while not in the room. It is recommended that both the candles and the incense be allowed to burn till completely gone for the ceremony to be complete.
After these components of the rite are complete, the house needs to be “sealed” to re-entry by the spirit. Several items can be used and most are easily obtainable. By far the most often mentioned is salt. Kosher or sea salt is recommended but I have even heard of regular table salt being used in a pinch. Holy water is another tool used often to create a barrier to spirits. Although most people feel that holy water is only from a Catholic church, I feel that any member of the clergy should be able to bless water for this use. Olive oil that has been blessed may also be used.
When all entrances have been “sealed” it is advisable to once again say a prayer or affirmation of protection and blessing to the building and those who enter and leave it. If the activity continues or you feel that the entity is not a normal ghostly spirit, it might be advisable to contact someone who has experience with this kind of work. Some clergy will offer help and advice also.
Anyone who is attempting a house cleansing needs to go into this endeavor with a pure intent. As always, it should be for the highest and the best for all involved, including the spirit. Another concern would be, is it necessary to evict the spirit? In most cases the spirit was there before the current inhabitant. Just like roommates, sometimes rules and adjustments have to be made but it is possible to cohabitate peacefully whether you are alive or in spirit. Think long and hard and in a kindly state of mind before trying to kick out a resident spirit.
In many books that I have read I have noticed one big maxim: Like attracts like. I agree that many places are haunted long before we start living there. However, in the course of our investigations I have heard many people say that the place was newly built or they had never noticed anything till ‘we had that rough patch in our marriage’ or ‘Tommy turned 13 and adolescence hit like an earthquake.’ Although much of the incidents that occur may be unproven ghostly activity, how much is created by actions of the inhabitants. Restless spirits may be attracted to a restless home. Unhappy spirits may be drawn to the unhappy living. Angry people seem to have angry ghosts. We have also run into many people who have mentioned that they have resident ghosts but they all just get along fine, they don’t bother each other. In other words, happy people attract happy ghosts.
Before we blame ghostly spirits for the fear and discord in our environments and attempt a house cleansing, maybe we need to do a spiritual cleansing for ourselves. Guess it’s time for me to do some cleaning too!
About the Author:
Through her work on the investigative team for the Crawford County Illinois Ghost Hunters, Rebecca Nidey has an understanding of the paranormal, spiritual, and metaphysical worlds and how they work together.
Rebecca has trained in the Healing Touch technique (a form of energy healing). She is a certified Psychic Medium trained by Belle Salisbury, and she is a certified Paranormal Researcher.
Rebecca is the associate editor for Bellesprit Magazine and also writes a column titled Everything I Need To Know I Learned In A Haunted House. She has been a co-host of several radio programs for the Haunted Voices Radio Network and HeyZ Radio Network highlighting the Paranormal, metaphysical and literary fields.
To learn more about Rebecca or to schedule a reading you can contact her at https://www.facebook.com/rebecca.nidey.
